The itchy,flaky and distressing dandruff is most common problem faced by many people generally during the cold weather conditions.Instead of piling up on anti-dandruff hair products, try using the following natural methods to get impressive results:

The Correct Shampoo MethodYou can use herbal anti-dandruff shampoo for fighting dandruff.Apply shampoo on your scalp and hair and massage it well.Leave the shampoo on for 3-4 minutes as its ingredients take time to penetrate the scalp and hair roots.Always remember to lather well and wash it off thoroughly and then reapply.Repeat the same process again. Rinse your hair well as the shampoo residue present on your scalp may cause infection.

Hot Oil And Towel TherapyDandruff is nothing but dead skin cells. It can be very embarrassing. Hot oil and turban therapy is very effective.All you need is to heat the oil (almond/olive/coconut oil) as per choice and availability. The best oil is olive oil for this purpose.The function of these oils is to moisturize your scalp by providing nourishment.

Method:Never over heat the oil.Apply the oil gently to hair roots and scalp with your fingertips and massage it in circular motion.Heat some water and dip a towel in it.Now wring the excessive water from the towel and simply wrap it around your head.This practice is called Turban Therapy which helps deep penetration of oil in the scalp and eradicates dandruff by providing moisture to the scalp.Keep the turban on for an hour and then wash it off with herbal or mild shampoo.

Vinegar WashUse herbal shampoo to clean your hair. After the shampoo, add vinegar to a glass of water and rinse your hair with it.Let the vinegar mix to drip on its own. Do not wash your hair with shampoo again and dry it with a towel as it not only keeps your hair dandruff free but also makes them glossy and shiny. Another method of getting rid of dandruff is to apply vinegar directly before shampooing your hair and let it on for 5 minutes.Carry on with the shampoo process as usual.Beetroot JuiceAnother good remedy to treat dandruff is white beetroot juice as it will not stain your clothes and pillow covers.

Method:Cut 2 medium sized beetroots, put them in water and wait till the water turns purplish. Heat the liquid and then drain it.Let the juice cool down.Now apply the juice on your scalp and cover your hair with a shower cap. Ideally, this should be done before going to bed.You can wash it off in the morning.The remaining liquid can be stored in an airtight bottle. Repeat the process for at least 3 weeks to see fruitful results.YogurtYogurt is a great remedy to solve dandruff issues.Method:Massage yogurt on the scalp and leave it until it dries.Then shampoo your hair. You can also add 2 tablespoons of gram flour (besan) in 4 tablespoons of yogurt and massage it well.Wash it off with herbal shampoo.

Lemon JuiceTwo tablespoons of lemon juice can be added to two cups of water and used as a hair rinse for better results.You also squeeze lemons and apply it directly to your hairand wash it off later. It is a potent method of eliminating dandruff.

Baking Soda Baking soda is an excellent treatment for dandruff.Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda in the herbal shampoo and take a shower with it.Wash it off with cold water in order to get rid of dandruff flakes.

Neem PasteNeem has anti bacterial properties and helps cleanse the scalp of heavy flakes of dandruff.You can use neem powder or fresh neem leaves to make a paste, according to the availability.

Cover the entire scalp by the smooth neem paste.Let it dry for sometime and wash it off properly with herbal shampoo and water.

Onion JuiceOnion juice is a very effective remedy for the eradication of dandruff. Apply its juice on the scalp.Add few drops of lemon juice before use in order to get rid of its strong smell.

Aloe Vera GelUse Aloe Vera gel by cracking open its stem.It fights against dandruff flakes.Apply the Aloe Vera gel directly on the scalp and wash it well with cold water.

Fenugreek SeedsFor a quick fix, soak 2 teaspoons of fenugreek (methi) seeds overnight and make its paste by adding any preferable hair oil. Let it stay on your hair for 2 hours and then wash it off.

The above remedies are time tested and proven but their effect will start slowly and gradually so patience is required while practicing them.

Syeda Kiran Zahra Hussain is a Certified Holistic Nutrition Therapist and has got certifications from SNHS, International College of Holistic Medicine, UK, and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), USA. Check out more articles on her Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Holistic-Living-By-Kiran-Zahra